Our Story:

Nick’s Deli, Seafood
and Roast Beef opened at 630 Boston Post Road East in Marlborough in
January of 2009. Right away, owner Nick Markos noticed something
different. “The people here are really down to earth,” he said. “They
welcomed me right away.”

No
doubt, his customers quickly took note of something different about
Nick’s, specifically the roast beef, which is unlike anything else
served in the city. The Markos family has a long history in the
restaurant business and has become famous for a superior quality roast
beef sandwich. Nick brought that trademark item to Marlborough and it
quickly became a hot seller.

Located
across from Home Depot, the menu at Nick’s is extensive and features
all kinds of sandwiches and wraps, plus salads, pasta dishes, chicken
and steak dinners and more. A few months after he opened, Nick added
fresh seafood to the menu and has seen a steady growth in that area
also.

“We
have our own secret recipe for the breading,” said Markos, “and our
seafood has become quite popular.” Markos makes his own tartar sauce and
coleslaw and said that people appreciate the overall freshness of his
seafood and accompanying items.

At
the moment, whole-bellied clams are the top seafood seller, including
clam baskets, platters and clam rolls. Whatever the customer may choose,
one constant is the huge portions that will surely satisfy even the
most hungry of patrons.

Other
hot menu items include the fresh pastrami and the Grecian kabob. “We
make our own pastrami,” said Markos. “It’s probably the second most
popular item after roast beef.

An
additional area of expansion for Markos has been with the corporate and
party market. He is equipped to cater anything from a basic corporate
lunch to a full backyard barbeque and everything in between.

He
might not have known it when he was younger but it seems Nick may have
been destined to open a restaurant.

Over
the years, other members of the extended Markos family opened similar
shops. Today, there are a half dozen places in the state where the roast
beef sandwiches are served the Markos family way.

Nick
initially began his career at Logan Airport but eventually decided to
get into the restaurant business with his brother, Chris. They
purchased an established pizza shop in Salem, MA where Nick worked for a
while until he opened his first store in Salem 1998.

Markos
injected new energy into the business and was able to bring the
trademark family roast beef into the mix. Soon, roast beef became a top
seller.

While
it was gratifying to see the fruits of his labor paying off, deep down,
he wanted to have a shop that was all his own. Soon he found himself
looking at an open storefront in Marlborough. With the blessing of his
wife, the father of twin five-year-old girls decided to strike out and
take a chance.

It
did not take long for Nick’s to develop a following, and though the
hours are long and the work is hard, especially for a startup business,
the positive feedback has Markos feeling upbeat. As for what the future
might hold in an uncertain economy, he said “Work hard and treat
customers right, and good things will happen.”

" At first glance, Nick’s Seafood, Roast Beef & Deli appears
to be the run-of-the-mill sandwich shop. Simple yet functional, tables
line one side of the room while a handful of high top tables are
scattered through the center of the establishment.

But on closer inspection, patrons will notice the walls have been
converted into a sort of sports’ shrine. Autographed photos of
professional athletes, such as the Patriots’ Richard Seymour and Troy
Brown, watch over folks as they devour one of Nick’s many subs. A flat
screen TV (showing sports) is mounted in the middle of the room above
the photos.

It’s a toss up whether a newcomer will be more distracted by the impressive number of autographed photos or the mammoth menu.“This is a one-stop-shop – it’s like eating a different home-cooked
meal every day. Each day guests can try something new and varied. Our
big menu makes this possible,” noted owner Nick Markos.

The Calzones and Italian dishes are the most popular among the
regulars. However, folks must try Nick’s roast beef. “Our roast beef
comes from a family recipe that’s been in the family for nearly 40
years,” Markos said.

Nick’s has been open for two years. Its casual, no frills atmosphere
(subs are served on paper plates and a sheet of tin foil), compliments
the cuisine – hearty helpings of fresh, quality-ingredient dishes at
reasonable prices.